First the good news. I blew past my $1000 goal last month, though I had to finish it off at Absolute Poker as opposed to Titan. The brain trust at iPoker have determined that it's best for business to drop US players. Oh well... good to know Absolute is still accepting my rake dollars.
That brings us to the UIGEA, or for folks who like to talk in mouthfuls, Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. What can I say that has not already been said? Bill Frist loopholed and gamed our government system to ram through a bill that negatively impacts millions of people around the world. The bill was against the opinions of a majority of Americans, and did not have enough support to pass on it's own merits, so he attached it to the Port Security Bill in the dead of night on the last day before Congress broke for the elections. Slimey.
Ahh, but sweet revenge on November 7th. With close elections all over the country, there is no doubt in my mind that ticked off poker players helped toss the bums out. As one poster put it over on the TwoPlusTwo legislation forums, "tell me what to do with my mouse, lose your seat in the House."
Where does poker go from here? Well, there is the simple law of supply and demand that trumps any law Congress has ever passed. As long as there are poker players in the States who want to play online, and as long as there are poker sites willing to accept them, we will most assuredly be able to play this game to our hearts content.
I look forward to the day that online poker is legal and regulated here in the USA, and we see Harrah's, MGM and others battling Party Poker for our business. Until then, I'll be playing for fishies chips and rakeback on any site that will take me!
